Many Christians erroneously think the disciples of Jesus during His earthly ministry on earth preached the Cross. But this is not so. Even on the day of Pentecost, Peter new nothing of the meaning of the Cross, so he scolded “Ye men of Israel” for killing “the Prince of LIFE.” (Acts 3:12-14).

The first GOSPEL we read of the New Testament was WITHOUT CHRIST’S DEATH.

This Gospel was preached during Jesus of Nazareth’s earthly ministry and then also into the early Acts period.

While He was yet alive, Jesus and the Twelve “went throughout every city and village” of Israel preaching “the gospel of the kingdom” of God (Luke 8:1; 9:2, 6) but only to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5-6.) For “the kingdom of heaven” had been long promised to come to the Nation Israel… “on earth.” Thus, Jesus gave His disciples what should be called ‘the disciples prayer’;

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

After over two years of Kingdom Gospel preaching, nearing the end of His ministry, Jesus told the same Twelve that He would soon be delivered to those who would torture “and put Him to death: and the third day He shall rise again.” Yet “they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken” (Luke 9:43-45;18:31-34).

By comparison we have “The Gospel” that Paul received from the ascended Lord Jesus Christ from heaven (cf. Acts 9) for ALL men. Paul’s “my gospel” (Rom. 16:25) is THE GOSPEL for this age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” unto ALL men alike.

Paul’s GOSPEL concerns CHRIST’S DEATH plus HIS BURIAL and RESURRECTION. Paul declares:

“¹ the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ²by which also we are saved.” (1Cor 15:1-2a)

“… that CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS according to the Scriptures, ⁴and that He Was Buried, and That He Rose Again The Third Day according to the Scriptures.” (1Cor 15:3-4).

Jesus rose from the dead as “the LIFE-giving Spirit” (1Cor 15:45). Then Paul articulates the details and riches of his new “Gospel of the grace of God” (Act 20:24), saying:

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [God’s secret plan], which Was Kept Secret Since The World Began,” (Romans 16:25)

Why kept secret?

This new Gospel had been “kept a secret” so that Satan would cooperate with God’s plan in Killing Christ (1Cor 2:7-8) Thereby, Satan unleashed

1) the freely offered forgiveness of sins and,

2) the dispensing of indwelling “Spirit of LIFE in Christ Jesus” into all who would believe the Gospel that is for today.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

This new Gospel has a different eternal outcome when compared with the Nations Israel who will co-reign in the Kingdom on earth. The “Gospel of the grace of God” for this Gentile age leads us to dwell “eternal in the heavens.” (2Cor 5:1b) where believers will co-reign with Christ forever (2 Timothy 2:12).